Tim Taylor, 42, of New Carlisle, Ohio, was pronounced dead after crews tried for four hours to rescue him from the silo, which contained about 8,000 pounds of fly ash, a component of cement.

Taylor’s co-workers called 911 after he fell into the silo and was stuck. His head was above the ash during much of the rescue attempt.

A firefighter was able to get an oxygen mask onto Taylor. Careflight was placed on standby during the rescue.

Rescue workers used a combination of rope systems to try to get Taylor out of the silo.

“All of the rope movement was based on the fact that they had maybe three or four feet worth of actual linear feet they were working with up there. All the rope systems were actually created and run on the ground and it was coordinated with all the guys that are 100 feet in the air,” rescue team manager Randall Hanifen said.

Team members said it was extremely difficult working around the fly ash. Visibility was near zero.